The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-22
TRIALS OF A CANTON FLANNEL
ELEPHANT.

than foot high, and weighing about |
pound. have .,een an elephant for |
month. Previous tc being an elephant
was Canton fame and cotton. 1 re
member distinctly how it felt when the
clerk sent his scissors through me to ge
off the two yards which serves me fol
a skin. 1t thrills me to my cotton interior
yet, and brings tears to my glass eyes.
Shortly after I got home was taken
out Of the brown paper, and laid on the
floor, with pattern pinned on me, and
then I was cut out. If Canton flannel
elephant is allowed to make merry jest
I should be pleased to remark that I also
felt very much cut up. Then was eewed
up partially on a sewing machine, and
stuffed with cotton. I don't know how
much cotton there is in me, but should
say something like bail, on rough
guess. 1t was stuffed, packed, and ham,
mered into lie, and forced into my legs
and trunk, until actually thought /
should split open and compel them to
make another elephant.
Finally / was all sewed up, and then my
tail was fixed on, and left loose enough
to veg, or rather to be wagged, for can't
wag it myself, being simply cotton, and
not being supplied with muscles. Then
my ears we're clapped on the sides OF my
head, and my glass eyes inserted. My
trunk turns under in such way that I
an frequently hung up like button
hook for the night.
My keeper is baby, and he makes it
pretty lively for me, too. He sets me
on my launches as though I were a
rabbit or penguin, and then sticks the
scissors in my eyes. He also knocks me
about, and sits on me, and allows the dog
to shake me like a rat. The other day
the dog carried me in his mouth way
across the street, and absentmindedly
left me there. never expected to see my
little master again, but fortunately the
nurse came along just then and took me
home.
On the following morning the baby in
sisted on playing with me while he was
taking bath, and, as matter Of course,
was thrust under and soaked through
and through. 1 suppose should have
taken cold if I had not been made Of
Canton flannel. 1 was then wrung out
and put in the oven to dry. While there
the bottoms of my feet we're burned off,
They were halt-soled later in the day, and
that made me feel better. But very
shortly after, cat came through the yard
where I was lying, and evidently mis-
took me for rabbit, for she pounced on
me, and I am willing to admit that when
she tore me open / felt all uudone.
was afterward patched up with piece of
red flannel, which gives me rather loud
air. [ was then used as football, and
knocked about with tennis rackets until
the thread got loose at the base of my
eyes, and was blind elephant. Then
was used for a pin-cushion when the
baby was not playing with me. I have
also been stuffed into broken window
to keep the cold out, and on one occasion
I heard the cook remark that, saturated
with kerosene, would make an excellent
kinder
Considering that 1 am used as box
ing-glove and continually covered with
court plaster, it makes me sad at heart to
think that a century is the average limit
of an elephants life And it makes me
sad to have this G inton flannel hide on in
summer. I think every baby's baby white
elephant should have mosquito-net skin
during the heated term. really have an
awful time of it, and whenever want to
weep my eyes are out. and / can't. The
other day 1 wept for an hour out of one
eye, and have felt lop-sided ever since.
To tell the truth, am weary of life,
and il you won't say anything 1 will tell
you little secret. Not long ago was
thrown in the closet, and some moths got
in me. They are there yet, eating away
as fast as they can, and think that in a
uOHtu SudiA 10 oOhpiOpoiy cotOh uP
and digested, and free from the torments
of the bald-headed little tyrant whom I
call master. Not much longer will he dress
me in dolls clothes, and rock me in era
die, and then use me to drive nails into
the floor.
When 1 am all eaten up, il there is
enough of me LETT to make decent fun
eral, am going to have the following
epitaph carved on my tombstone:
Here lies an elephant made of cloth,
The victim of the hungry moth.